They lived entirely separate lives but the circumstances of their deaths were strikingly similar.

Suelynne Brown's insight:

People mistakenly believe that if police have Tasers they use them instead of firearms — they won't. They'll use them in addition to firearms," he said. "It's not weapons that are needed. It's approaching people in a reasonable way that's needed." Peter Rosenthal - Michael Eligon's Lawyer

What a timely article! Glad you posted about mental illness, Daniel. There are some really good points in this discussion: 1) re-thinking the kinds of social control police should and should not use; and 2) How do we know when someone acting violently or breaking laws is mentally ill? How can cops better assess the people they are trying to stop and arrest? These are tough issues. On the one hand, we tend to have different ideas about people who are violent or break laws who have the label of "mentally ill." They aren't necessarily mean and terrible people, they are sick, so we want the police to treat them better and try to better assess and control situations involving mentally ill people. It seems like Daniel is saying we prefer the agents of social control for mentally ill people to be doctors and to treat them with interventions like therapy. And if, as in the case of one of the mentally ill people shot by Canadian police, that disordered person escapes a hospital/doctors, police should try to use the minimal amount of force necessary to diffuse problems with mentally ill persons. What could police forces do to better handle mentally ill people?

I am so glad we're talking about this, thank you Daniel! Here is my view: The police in Michael Eligon's situation were alerted of his condition prior to being dispatched to the scene - which led to his death. The police force has a lot of responsibility – Agreed! My question is, “When are those higher on the food chain going to start funding projects - which educate officers in mental health awareness?” This training needs to be fairly extensive... The mentally ill deserve to be protected just like any other citizen. Eligon, was in crisis - which is when intervention by mental health specialists is crucial! Not officers untrained in MH, who seem far more worried about protecting themselves, than a vulnerable man. Eligon, died needlessly, and my entire point is this situation should act as a wakeup call for society, and the police force. It’s time to increase mental health awareness; so we can put some much needed initiatives to work. No more should die needlessly due to lack of awareness.

Federal Prison Sat By While Mentally Ill Inmate Ate His Own Feces ThinkProgress As several news reports have recently highlighted, prisons are increasingly serving as de facto asylums for the mentally ill.

Prison is where many of the mentally ill end up.... Some in today's society either have no idea how to help these people or, they just don't care enough! Mental illness if unchecked may lead to self medication, and drug abuse/addiction... Addictions often lead to criminal activity landing many in prison! Prisons like this one use tactics like solitary confinement as punishment for misbehavior etc... I call this form of punishment torture!

This article shows not it's not only in the western world that consumes drugs, but also in different parts of the world. Aimed at the public to help them be aware of the world, drug addiction occurs anywhere else.

Charities warn lives are being put at risk as not enough is being done to spot the early signs of mental health problems.

Suelynne Brown's insight:

This is the absolute truth! Not only is not enough being done to save the lives of millions; the stigma surrounding those with mental illness is actually getting worse! Stigma intensifies the pain many are in causing the ill to go undiagnosed which in turn causes isolation, self-medication and eventually death! It's time to wake up folks!

During a trip to Juba, South Sudan to cover the referendum for independence, photojournalist Robin Hammond came across a story he had never seen adequately depicted, when he saw, as he tells FotoEvidence, a mentally ill girl begging at the side of...

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